Outage indicator



Dec. 21,1943. J. F, ATKINSON ET AL L 2,337,441

OUTAGE INDICATOR Filed July 3, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet l I TWNSM/rrE/Qff INVENTORS. Lfd/272. zwm, 70m/am @a6/ef,

Dea 2L 1943 1. F. ATKiNSON ET AL OUTAGE INDICATOR Filed July 3, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dea 21, 1943- J. F. ATKINSON ETAL 2,337,441

OUTAvGE INDICATOR u Filed July s, 1941 sheets-sheet :s L\ S 1 N N f mvsmoxs. SP (Q LQ fo/2R Pdt/1125075 l BY Dozzmfzlasler:

Dec. 21, 1943. J. F. ATKINSON ET Al. 2,337,441

OUIAGE INDICATOR Filed July I5, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTL'DRL) Patented Dec. 21, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OUTAGE INDICATOR John F. Atkinson and Dorman E. Basler, Washington, D. C.

Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved outage indicator and more particularly to electronic apparatus for reporting and recording outages of electric power lines or sections thereof.

Numbers of high tension power lines now extend into rural areas where telephones are not generally available for reporting outages on the lines. Even where telephones are in general use,

the telephone service to report outages results in considerable expense, due to cost oi' reversed charges on toll lines. Further` an automatic indicating device results in more prompt receipt of the knowledge of a service interruption. This makes possible an increase in operating revenue due to lessening of the periods when the lines may be out of service. An additional important feature is the increase in consumer good-will created by prompt return of a line to service.

The present apparatus operates upon the principle of wired radio or carrier current telegraphy and it has been found that with nominal power output, on the order of twenty-five watts, and with a frequency of 80 kilocycles, it is possible to transmit carrier energy satisfactorily over distances up to sixty miles. This distance fully meets the requirements normally encountered i the average distribution system.

The system broadly comprises a plurality of transmitters and receivers. The signals may be transmitted on radio frequencies but are preferably transmitted over the power lines at carrier current frequencies. The transmitters are located at each sectionalizing point to monitor the line beyond that point. Each transmitter is identifled by a characteristic code signal which it transmits when the line beyond that point is put out of operation by the sectionalzing device, such as a fuse or circuit breaker.

The receiver or receivers are located at the system office or substation or at the maintenance center as may be desired.

The transmitters have a definite cycle of operation so that when the corresponding line sec- After as to be ready to again send an out-ofservice signal when another interruption occurs.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved automatically operated outage indicator for use on power linesor the like.

It is an additional object to provide apparatus of this character which definitely reports both line outages and restoration to service.

It is a-further object to provide apparatus which is operated by means oi power from the line being monitored.

It is another object to provide apparatus which sends a carrier current signal over the power line.

It is also an object to provide apparatus which is simple in design and operation and largely comprises standard component parts which are commercially available.

Other and further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

We have shown certain preferred embodiments of our invention in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the application of the invention to a power transmission system;

Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the transmitter apparatus;

Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the receiver apparatus;

Figure 4 is a somewhat diagrammatic showing of the connections of the receiver to the line;

Figure 5 is similar to Figure 4 but shows the transmitter connections for a single phase line;

Figure 6 shows a supplementary connection to be used on a two-phase line;

Figure 'I is a schematic wiring diagram of the transmitter; and

Figure 8 is a schematic wiring diagram of the receiver and recorder circuits.

The general diagram, as shown in Figure 1, is provided with legends so that 'it makes clear the layout. The receiver is connected to the line adjacent kthe vsubstation or main station, and transmitters are located at various branch points. Transmitter A is located at a point to indicate an outage on the line between the main junction and the junction where lines lead to transmitters E, F and G. Transmitter G monitors the line beyond that point, while transmitter F monitors the line in the opposite direction. Transmitter E monitors the branch extending beyond. that point. The transmitters beyond transmitter B similarly monitor lines beyond the location o1' each individual transmitter.

It will be noted that each transmitter is indicated as having a connectionrto the line upon each side of the seotionalizingldevice. This is shown in greater detail in Figure 2 where on the supply side of the line there is a connection through a couplingcapacitor to the transmitter itself, which is stated on the diagram as an electron-coupled oscillator and power amplifier. There is also a connection around the coupling capacitor to a step-down transformer which provides the power for operating the transmitter. The timer and recycler which actually sends the signal by means of the transmitter is indicated in the lower-block. The load side of the line beyond the' sectionalizing device is connected through a pilot capacitor to the sensitive electronic relay, which will be described more in detail hereafter and which serves to put in operation the transmitter.

The receiver is indicated in the block diagram, Figure 3, and is connected to the high voltage line through a coupling capacitor through which the signal is conveyed to the receiver which, in turn, actuates the punch recorder and time stamp which makes a permanent record of the outage beyond any given transmitter.

The general layouts of the capacitor connections are shown in Figures 4 to 6. Figure 4, which shows the receiver connection, includes a grounded housing indicated generally in broken lines at II, and a through insulator l2 carrying the line I3 connected to the main power line. This line terminates in the coupling capacitor I4, which is designed to withstand the voltage of the line with a satisfactory safety factor. The opposite side of capacitor I4 is connected to the drainage coil I5, the purpose of which will be explained more in detail hereinafter. The lower end of this coil is grounded and the housing II is grounded. The lower side of capacitor I4 is also connected through wire I 6 to spark gap I1 and through the insulator I8 to the receiver` proper.

In Figure there is a diagrammatic showing of the installation at the transmitter. The coupling capacitor has its high voltage electrode 2| connectedby wire 22 to the high voltage line on the substation or power house side of the sectionalizing device, not shown in this iigure. There is also connection through wire 23 to transformer 24 which serves to operate the transmitter. It is to be understood thatv this is diagrammatic and there may be a plurality of transformers. The through insulator 25 is provided in the grounded. The secondary electrode 21 ofV the capacitor 2.0 is connected by wire 28 to the spark gap 29 and to wire 30 which leads through insulator 3l to the transmitter. The capacitor 34 has its inner electrode connected by the wire 3B to the power line on the far side of the sectionalizing device. The second electrode 31 is connected by wirel 38 to spark gap 35 and to wire 4U which leads through insulator 4I to the transmitter.

If a, multi-phase line is being monitored, it is necessary to have additional connections to the transmitter, one leading to each phase circuit on the far side of the sectionalizing device. Such a supplementary connection is shown diagrammatically in Figure 6 and includes a grounded housing 44 containing the capacitor 45, the primary electrode 46 of which is connected by wire housing 26, which housing is 41 to the second phase line being monitored. The

secondary electrode 48 of capacitor 45 is connected through line 48 to spark gap 50 and through line 5| 5 mittel'. It will be understood that il a threephase line is being monitored there will be an additional unit similar to that shown in Figure 6.

The transmitter is shown diagrammatically in Figure 7. This transmitter, in general, is a usual type of code transmitter including an oscillator and power ampliiier. It has been found in practice that 80 kilocycl'es is a convenient and satisfactory frequency upon which to operate the transmitter, which thus givesasignal carried by the power lines but without objectionable radiation. The transmitter may be mounted in the eld on the same pole as the sectionalizing device of the line being monitored, which device may comprise fuses or cutouts.

Referring to the diagram of Figure 7, the coupling capacitor on the supply side of the line which has been .shown in Figure 5, is indicated here by the same reference character 20. The capacitor 20, as shown in Figure 5, comprises a through bushing or insulator with inner and outer coatings of copper. These two coatings are of such area and spacing as to form a capacitor of approximately 50 micromicrofaradsn" The spark 30 gap 29 serves to turn off lightning and other static discharges. The other capacitor 34 of Figure 5 is shown further to the right in Figure '7, and is connected to the circuit of the control tube 55, which may be of the type known as a 6R7G electronic relay tube. 1f several phases are to be monitored, additional similar tubes 56 and 51 are used connecting through similar capacitors 45, such as shown in Figure 6. The main stepdown transformer 24 of Figures 5 and 7 furnishes alternating current voltage through lines 58 and 59 to the vplates of tubes 55, 56 and 51. The transformer 60 supplies current to the heaters of the relay tubes 55, 56 and 51, which tubes remain lighted twenty-four hours a day.

Referring next to the input circuit of the rst electronic relay tube 55, which circuit is typical of the circuits of tubes 56 and 51, the alternating current voltage appearing across resistor 6I is rectiiied by the diode plates of tube and is filtered by the resistor 62 and condenser 63. The resultant direct current voltage is applied to the grid of the tube 55 and his direct current potential is large enough to bias the tube beyond cutofi', so thatI no plate current Iiows. The alternating current voltage on the plate of tube 55, which is supplied by the main step-down transformer 24, is also applied continuously twentyfour hours a day. The voltages supplied to the G0 heaters anv plates are derived from the transformers which are connected to the station side 0i. the high voltage line so that they are not affected by an outage beyond the sectionalizing device. If, however,` the line is -cut out beyond the keys the radio frequency section of the transmitter.

passing through insulator 52, to the trans-4 This radio frequency section of the transmitter comprises an oscillator tube 10, which may be a stable GFGG tube electron-coupled, operating at 80 kilocycles. This oscillator, in turn, drives two amplifier tubes 1| and 12 which have been shown as parallel connected 6L6G tubes operated as class C triodes.

The tank coil 13 of the amplifier is coupled to the substation or power station side of the power line through an antenna loading coil 14 and a coupling capacitor 20. The antenna loading coil may be adjusted for resonance by a comminuted iron core in a well-known manner. This combination is a series resonant circuit and would provide a low impedance path to ground for any 80 kilocycle signals transmitted by other transmitters on the line. To avoid this, a high impedance loading coil 15 has been inserted in series with the resonant antenna circuit. During operation of this particular transmitter, this loading coil is shorted out by means of a pair of contacts located upon and operated by thc code transmitter section.

When an outage occurs, the relay 54 will close contacts 18 and, through closed contacts 19 and wires 80 and 8|, connects the transformer 82 in the high voltage circuit. This transformer' 82 has a winding providing current through connection Y to the heaters of the tubes of the radio frequency section of the transmitter. The transformer also has windings to supply the plate voltage to these tubes through the wire 83 and contacts 84. It will be noted that normally no voltage is applied to the tube plates, the contacts B4 being normally open.

The drive motor 65 of the code transmitter f is also placed in circuit by the closing of relay 18 and contacts 19, since this motor is connected to wire 80. The recycling wheels 85 and 85 are geared down from the code wheel 81'so as to make one cycle in approximately six minutes. The Wheel 85 is provided with drop slot 88 and the wheel 86 is provided with a similar slot 89. When the motor 65 is not running, the contacts on one of the wheels 85 or 86 are resting in the slot on that wheel. wheel are resting on the periphery of that wheel. When an outage occurs and the motor 65 is started by the closing of contacts 18 by means of relay 64, the motor starts operating and both wheels 85 and 86 start turning. the iirst wheel rise from the slot and slide on the periphery of the wheel as it turns, this being the condition shown in Figure 7. Both wheels turn until the contacts on the second wheel fall into their slot, opening the motor and transmitter circuits. The motor then stops and power to the radio frequency section of the transmitter is turned off.

When service is resumed, the motor starts again, the power supply is turned on again, and the Wheels rotate as before until the rst set of contacts again fall into their slot. This turns the motor and power supply ofi", and the system is again ready to report the next outage. It will bc apparent that during the operation of the motor 65 the wheel 81 is also rotated and the lugs or pins extending from the periphery of the wheel serve to close the contacts 84 momentarily, ap-

plying plate voltage to the plates of the radio frequency tubes. It will be noted that the plat?"- of all of the tubes are keyed in this manner, and when plate voltage is momentarily applied to them the transmitter serves as a code transmitter, transmitting dots in accordance with the The contacts on the other The contacts on number and spacing of the lugs or pins on the wheel 81.

The same transmitter chassis is used for all installations. The transmitter is designed for a three-phase line but when only a single phase line is being monitored the tubes 56 and 51 and their corresponding neon bulbs 95 and 9G are also removed from their sockets. The neon bulb 91 associated with tube 55 remains in its socket. Ballast resistors are inserted in the sockets of tubes 56 and 51 and their grid connectors are taped to prevent them from shorting to the chassis.

The receiver circuit is shown in Figure 8 and the connection to the line is indicated in the upper left-hand portion of that figure. The parts bear the same reference characters as shown on. Figure 4. The line HH from the receiver coupling capacitor unit connects to a condenser |02 and coil |83 in series to ground. The condenser |02 offers a high reactance to the 60 cycle current and a. lower reactance to the 80 kilocycle signals. The signal input voltage for the input of the receiver is obtained from across the drainage ceil. The power line is connected through wire i3 to the top of the unit shown in Figure 4, and the receiver input is connected to the bushing at the bottom of the unit. The metal cases of both the input unit and the receiver are connected solidly to the grounded neutral wire. The receiver is preferably enclosed in a waterproof metal case and may be mounted either in the substation or on a pole in the eld. In the latter case the output of the receiver may be brought to the recording equipment in the station through special lines or through leased telephone lines if more convenient.

The receiver has a total oi six tubes, as shown in Figure 8. There are two GSK'? tubes shown at |04 and |ll5. which serve as radio frequency ampliers amplifying the 80 kilocycle signal. The next tube |06 is a diode rectier tube of the GHS type, while tube |01 is shown as a gaseous relay tube of type number 205|. Two rectifier tubes |98 and |09 are Used` these being of the 5Y3G type, as shown. The tube Ili acts as a recticr for the power to the receiver proper, while tube |09 operates as a rectiiier for the power for the recording relay. The operation of the radio frequency amplifier is conventional up to tube lill, which is a gaseous relay tube. Alternating current is applied to both the plate and the cathodel of this tube U31 from opposite sides of the transformer winding, so that when the plate is positive the cathode is negative, and vice versa. However, the plate potential is kept low enough so that the gas in the tube will not lonize, and no plate current will flow even when the plate swings positive. as long as there is no grid voltage.

When a signal is received it is amplified and rectified, and appears as a positive potential on the control grid of the gas tube. This positive grid potential will cause ionization in the tube when the plate swings positive, s0 that a heavy plate current will ow through rela-y IIU. thus energizing it. This current will flow during the positive half of each cycle as long as the signal is being received. When the signal stops, plate current will stop flowing on the next negative half cycle and the relay will release. When the relay is energized, the contacts open, which opens the 48 volt direct current circuit which operates the recording equipment. The details of the recording equipment form no part of the present invention and need not be described herein. The recorder is connected to terminals 4 and 5 on the terminal board at the lower left-hand of Figure 8. It will be apparent that terminal I is connected to the receiver input, while terminal 2 is connected to the high voltage line to supply power for the receiver.

The operation of the punch recorder and time stamp may be described briefly as follows:

The circuit is opened when a signal is received. Opening of the circuit serves to deenergize a contact relay in the recorder, with the result that a pilot lamp in the recorder goes out, the punch recorder punches a hole in the tape, and the time stamp prints the time on the tape. rrhe time stamp. the punch solenoid and the time stamp motor receive their power from a separate power line. normally a 120 volt 60 cycle line. The punch recorder mav be provided with a protector device. such as a bi-metallie thermal cutout. to open this 120 volt circuit if the 48 volt supply through terminals 4 and 5 is cut off for a considerable time. This prevents possibility of the punch solenoid burning out in such a contingency. 4Tt will be noted that a control H2 is provided in this 48 volt line in the receiver so as to provide exactly the amount of power needed to operate the relay in the punch recorder.

Due to the double cam wheel assembly. including wheels R' and H6 on the transmitter. as shown in Figure 7. the apparatus transmits to the receiver two distinct signals. one when the line goes out of operation and the other when the line goes back into operation. The rotation of the two is timed such that if the entire system is operating properly the tube on the receiving end will show a continuous reception of the signal for 3%, minutes. indicating outage. When the current is put back on the line. the transmitter will give a 21.4? minute indication that service has been resumed. Conseouentlv the apparatus is effective in warning the substation or power station of the necessity for repairs or adjustment to bring the line baci?. into operation, and also signals the station when the line has been put back in service by the men sent out for that purpose.

While we have shown and described in detail certain forms of construction for carrying out our invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of variation to meet differing conditions and requirements. Both sending and receivingr equipment may be varied to use different types of tubes or different degrees of amplification, as desired. We contemplate such modications as come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

i. An outage indicator for power lines having sectionaiiaing devices. comprising a transmitter connected to ihe power line and actuated by power derived from a connection to the line on the input side of a sectionelizing device, an electronic relay for putting the transmitter in operation. said relay being connected to the power line upon the output side of the sectionalizing device and being biased to prevent passage of current therethrough when said sectionalizing device is passing current, the relay acting to put the transmitter in operation when the sectionalizing device disconnects the output side of the line, and a receiver i'or receiving signals from the transmitter. y

2. An outage indicator for power lines having secticnalizing devices, comprising a transmitter connected to the power line and actuated by power derived from a connection to the line on ti (l the input side of a sectionalizing device, an electronic relay for putting the transmitter in operation, said relay being connected to the power line upon the output side of the sectionalizing device and being biased to prevent passage of current therethrough when said sectionalzing device is passing current, the relay comprising means serving to put the transmitter in operation when the sectionalizing device disconnects the output side of the line, said transmitter being further provided with means for putting the transmitter out of operation after it has been in operation for a predetermined time, and a receiver for receiving signals from the transmitter.

3. An outage indicator for power lines having sectionalizing devices, comprising a transmitter connected to the power line and actuated by power derived from a connection to the line on the input side of a sectionalizing device, an electronic relay for putting the transmitter in operation, said relay being connected to the power line upon the output side of the sectionalizing device and being biased to prevent passage of current therethrough when said sectionalizing device is passing current, the relay acting to put the transmitter in operation when the sectionalizing device disconnects the output side of the line, said transmitter being further provided with means for putting the transmitter out of operation after it has been in operation for a predetermined time, said transmitter being further provided with means to put it in operation when service is restored to the output side of the line, and a receiver for receiving signals from the transmitter.

4. An outage indicator for power lines having sectionalizing devices, comprising a transmitter connected to the power line and actuated by power derived from a connection to the line on the input side of a sectionalizing device, a relay for putting the transmitter in operation, said relay comprising an electronic tube normally biased by potential derived from the output side of the line to prevent current Iiow, and to pass current when the bias is removed, a relay contact operated by current passing through the electronic tube to close the power circuits of the transmitter to put the transmitter in operation, an automatic code sender connected to the transmitter, means for operating the sender when the transmitter is put in operation, and a receiver for receiving signals from the transmitter.

5. An outage indicator for power lines having sectionalizing devices, comprising a transmitter connected to the power line and actuated by power derived from a connection to the line on the input side of a sectionalizing device, an electronic relay for putting the transmitter in operation, said relay being connected to the power line upon the output side of the sectionalizing device and being biased to prevent passage of current therethrough when said sectionalizing device is passing current, the relay acting to put the transmitter in operation when the sectionalizing device disconnects the output side of the line, and a receiver for receiving signals from the transmitter, said receiver comprising a receiver proper and a recording device, the recording device being normally out of operation, and the receiver including a relay for putting the recorder in operation when a signal is being received.

6. An outage indicator for power lines having sectionalizing devices, comprising a transmitter connected to the power line and actuated by power derived from a connection to the line on the input side of a sectionalizing device. a relay for putting the transmitter in operation, said relay comprising an electronic tube normally biased by potential derived from the output side of the line to prevent current ilow, and to pass current when the bias is removed, a relay contact operated by current passing through the electronic tube to close the power circuits of the transmitter to put the transmitter in operation, an automatic code sender connected to the transmitter, means for operating the sender when the transmitter is put in operation, and a receiver for receiving signals from the transmitter,v said re-y ceiver comprising a receiver proper and a recording device, the recording device being normally out of operation, and the receiver including va relay for putting the recorder in operation when a signal is being received. Y f

7. In a. power transmitting system, in combination, an input conductor, a receiver connected thereto, an output conductor, a sectionalizing device controlling the connection of said output conductor to said input conductor, transmitter control means connected in parallel across said sectionalizing device, said transmitter control means including an electronic relay tube having a heater and a plate connected to said output conductor on the input side of said sectionalizing device, said electronic tube having a grid connected to said output conductor upon the output side of said sectionalizing device, and

meansI for supplying direct current to said grid to prevent the passage of plate current in said tube when said sectionalizing device is intact, said electronic tube being capable of passing plate current when said sectionalizing device is interrupted.

8. In a power transmitting system, in combination, an input conductor, a receiver connected thereto, an output conductor, a sectionalizing device controlling the connection of said output conductor to said input conductor, transmitter control means connected in parallel across said sectionalizing device, said transmitter control means including an electronic relay tube having a heater and a plate connected to said output conductor on the input side of said sec-` tionalizing device, said electronic tube having a grid connected. to said output conductor upon the output side of said sectionalizing device, means for supplying direct current to said grid to prevent the passage of plate current in said tube when said sectionalizing, device is intact, said electronic tube being capable of passing plate current when said sectionalizing device is interrupted, and means responsive to said electronic tube for sending a message over said system to said receiver When said plate current flows.

9. In a power transmitting system, in combination, an input conductor, a receiver connected thereto, an output conductor, a sectionalizing device controlling the connection of said output conductor said input conductor, transmitter control means connected in parallel across said sectionalizing device, said transmitter control means including an electronic relay tube having a heater and a plate connected to said output conductor on the input side of said sectionalizing device, said electronic tube having a grid connected to said output conductork upon the output side of said sectionalizing device, means for supplying direct current to said grid to prevent the passage of plate current in said tube when said sectionalizing device is intact, said electronic tube being capable of passing plate current when said sectionalizing device is interrupted, means responsive to said electronic tube for sending a message over said system to said receiver when said plate current flows,and means for interrupting said sending means after the lapse of a predetermined time.

10. In a power transmitting system, in combination, an input conductor, a receiver connected thereto, an output conductor, a sectionalizing device controlling the connection of said output conductor to said input conductor, transmitter control means connected in parallel across said sectionalizing device, said transmitter control means including an electronic relay tube having a heater and a plate connected to said output conductor on the input side of said sectionalizing device, said electronic tube having a grid connected to said output conductor upon the output side of said sectionalizing device, means for supplying direct current to said grid to prevent the passage of plate current in said tube when said sectionalizing device is intact, said electronic tube being capable of passing plate current when said sectionalizing device is interrupted, means responsive to said electronic tube for sending a message over said system to said receiver when said plate current flows, means for interrupting said sending means after the lapse of a predetermined time, and means for transmitting a message responsive to the restoration of said sectionalizing means.

JOHN F. ATKINSON.

DONNAN E. BASLER.

CERTIFICATE oF CORRECTION."v patent No. 2,557,1m1. December 21, 191g.

JOHN F. ATKINSOLET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the 'printed `specification' of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, second column, line 9, claim 9, for conductor said read --conductor to :amid-4` and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same me;r conform to the recordei` the case in the P atent Office.

Signed vand sealed this 8th day of February, A. D. 1911.14..

A Henry Van Arsdale, (Seel) Acting Commissioner' of Patents. 

